I was overweight my whole life, except for one week when I was three. (My mom took a picture.) From chubby baby I went to pudgy child, chunky teen, and fat adult. About 5 years ago I started driving more and my weight skyrocketed. When I realized that I was not only too big for my old clothes, but couldn't even find new ones in my size, I had to face facts. I wasn't "plump," I was obese. I'd heard that losing 5% of your weight would lower your risk of diabetes, so I Googled "calorie counting ...

I was overweight my whole life, except for one week when I was three. (My mom took a picture.) From chubby baby I went to pudgy child, chunky teen, and fat adult. About 5 years ago I started driving more and my weight skyrocketed. When I realized that I was not only too big for my old clothes, but couldn't even find new ones in my size, I had to face facts. I wasn't "plump," I was obese. I'd heard that losing 5% of your weight would lower your risk of diabetes, so I Googled "calorie counting software," downloaded a couple of programs, and set out to lose 9 pounds. When I learned how many calories I really needed to eat and how many calories were really in my food, the weight started dropping. I lost my 9 pounds, so I decided to lose 8 more, then 7 more, and without really meaning to, I reached a "normal" BMI. That's where I've been for the last 3 years, right at the top of the "healthy" range for my height. I'd like to lose a few more pounds as a "safety margin," but I'm not too worried about it.

My Goals:
I was focused just on maintaining, but re-gained a little bit over the past 4-5 years. As of May of 2011, I'm on a drive to take off what I gained AND keep going to take off the last 7-10 pounds I never did lose the first time. All in all, I'm aiming to lose 15-20 pounds over the next 6 months to a year.

Update for the New Year 2012: Um.... I guess the update is that there's no update. :( I still need to get rid of those 15 pounds that somehow sneaked back on when I wasn't looking! Oh, well. New Year's Resolution time!

My Program:
Calories in versus calories out. I've logged everything, every day, for just a bit more than 4 years. I walk a lot, run a little, ride a bike now and then, and drive as little as possible so I can burn calories and save money all at once!

Since you are one of the moderators for the message boards I wanted to bring this to your attention as you would know the correct person to contact. Since they changed the board, it now says sorting last post when it is sorting the first post. Needs to be fixed. Thanks.

Loved your response on how to stop the binge. My mom was ill all my life, so I've self-mommed all my life. . .never was good with the self-comfort bit. I hugged my mother for the first time in my life when my daughter was 3 (I was 39). It was her negative reaction that lets me remember it so well. Thank you so much.